Just One Look.

Catherine Willows walked by Gil Grissom’s office and stopped dead in her tracks.
“Gil, what the HELL is that?”, as she pointed to something sitting on his head.

“Oh! Hey Cath, like it?” He patted the top of his head proudly. “Just got it today. I think it’s….cool.” He was grinning like a kid with a new pair of shoes.

“I’m…I’m speechless. I’ve NEVER seen anything like that before. Thank you God!” Catherine came into the office looking at Gil’s head as if there was a skunk sitting on his head. “Christ Gil!”

“Hey Grissghees…what the hell is THAT?” Warrick Brown just walked into Gil’s office to get a new case and he too came to a complete halt. “Man that is a serious …”

“Cool isn’t it?” Gil smiled.

Warrick looked at Catherine, who shrugged her shoulders. “He’s not serious?” Catherine’s hands went to her mouth to cover a giggle.

“What? There’s nothing wrong with it.” Gil took the hat off his head and looked at it and placed it back on. “Oh I had the back in the front….sorry. There, now how’s it look?”

Just then Nick Stokes and Greg Sanders walked into Gil’s office arguing about some evidence they couldn’t agree on. Nick just stood there with his mouth open and his eyes darting back and forth between Warrick and Catherine. He was at a loss for words. Greg on the other hand was behind Nick’s back holding on to Nick’s belt to keep himself from falling over with laughter.

“Griss,” after gaining some control, “You are NOT serious about that hat man, are you?
My gosh that looks like something from……”

“Hee Haw.” Nick finally found his voice.

“Thank you Nicky. I was trying to remember the show.” Catherine now had a grip on Warrick’s arm trying not to double over.

“Hey! We’re having a meeting and no one……..” Sara Sidle stopped part of the way into the office. Her mouth was wide open in awe of the hat. Gil sat there and smiled. “You’re not serious are you? Even with MY poor fashion sense I KNOW that’s…”, pointing to the hat, “…is so oh dear God!”

Gil took his hat off and held it to his chest, as if to protect it. “Awww come on guys! This is a GREAT hat! Really!”

“Where did you get that thing?” Greg finally asked the question on everyone’s mind.

“He paid a homeless man five bucks.” Jim Brass walked into the office. “Sorry to break up this fashion show but we got a shooting. Grab your stuff and let’s go….all of ya!” He turned and walked out quickly.

Gil put the hat back on his head and looked at the people in the room. “Well? You heard the man….let’s go!” As usual Gil was clueless as to why they were still staring at him. The CSIs were trying to decide if they wanted to be seen with him wearing that hat.

**************

The entire crew of CSIs got to the crime scene within seconds of one another. Gil and Catherine rode together, Nick and Warrick and then Greg and Sara followed in her SUV. They were arguing as usual as to who was going to drive. So they managed to make a compromise, she drove to the crime scene and he would drive back to the LAB.

The CSIs were standing outside an apartment building near a swimming pool. It was an obviously a gay apartment complex. The men at the pool were pretty much in the tiniest bathing suits….if you could call them bathing suits. Some had just a towel wrapped around them. Quite a few of them were ogling Nick, Warrick and Greg as they walked by. Catherine felt slightly strange since she was used to being stared at, her strawberry hair and great figure turned a lot of men’s heads. But this time she wasn’t the center of attention and it threw her off for a second or two.

“Ahh Gil, I think this place is…..”

“Really nice!” Gil looked around the area. “The management really keeps this place neat and clean. My gods I would move here if I ever wanted to give up my house.”

“Errrr Gil this is a GAY place. Is there something you want to tell me?” Catherine was looking up at him slightly puzzled if she had read her friend wrong all these years.

“It is?? Oh no, no, no, no. NO Catherine NO. Okay, er let’s get moving and start on this…so we can…..” Gil became aware of numerous men looking at him with somewhat impure thoughts and he wasn’t too comfortable with it. Other lifestyles were fine with him but not on a personal level. He just didn’t go there.

“Sara, Nick outer area, Warrick–pictures of the vic and around there. I’ll talk to David and Gil….whatever.”

“Err thanks Cath.” Gil tried to get back on focus and headed t the spot where the victim lay dead.

“So David what do we have here?” Gil bend down and when he realized his butt would be the view of the men around the pool, he shifted to the other side of the victim. He wanted to keep his back to some bushes and felt a tad safer.

David Phillips, the assistant coroner on the case was already down low checking the vic out.
“Single small caliber wound, straight for the heart. Death probably instant. Not much blood. No exit wound either. Been maybe an hour according to witnesses.”

“Do we know who the ‘alleged killer’ is?” Gil looked up at Brass, who was standing there waiting for Gil to get up.

“We got some witnesses over there. But none of them are talking much.” Gil got up and walked with Brass over to the group of skimpy dressed young men.

“Would everyone line up and hold out their hands please.” Gil looked at the group, they all were looking at him. Some had their mouths open, others were just staring at him. Gil adjusted his straw hat on his head some, as if he was tilting the crown of England.

The men held out their hands as Gil dabbed each one and then sprayed the solution to see if GSR was present. Not one of them showed any. “Well you guys are all clean. Sorry Jim, it’s not one of these gentlemen.”

“Well of course not. I mean we all KNOW er knew Jonathan, not one of us would have shot him.” One of the men put his hand on his hip to emphasize his point.

“Well then, WHO did? Give us a clue, a hint, PLEASE.” Jim was looking at them and shaking his head. “Unless you want to go in as accomplices.”

“Ohhhh honey, you mean go to that mean jail place? Oh no, no, no, no ! I don’t know who did it but…I’m NOT going there. Those orange jumpsuits are NOT my colour.” One of the more effeminate guys answered. “Nope, not going there.”

“Well, then gentlemen, I suggest someone cough up something. This man was shot at a distance but still SOMEONE saw SOMETHING ! Start talking.”

Just then a slight scream from across the area was heard. Everyone looked up to find a thin young man running towards the area. He ran right thru the tape and the police officers standing around had no chance of grabbing him before he zipped passed them.

“NO !! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Not my Sugarlumps!! NOOOOOOO!” His effeminate run caused a few of the rough and burly cops to snicker, which Brass gave them a look which quickly wiped it off their faces. Warrick was able to stop him before he got to the body of his fallen ‘Sugarlump’. “Nooooooooooooo Sugarlump!! Honeybunny !! NOOOOOO!!” He has buckling at the knees and Warrick quickly led him to a chaise lounge for him to sit on. Warrick then put the man’s feet up so that the blood draining from his face wouldn’t cause him to pass out. Several of his friends came over and were fanning him and getting him to sip some water.

“I take it they are…..” Catherine was looking at one of the men fanning their sobbing friend.

“Partners yes. They’ve been together for over five years. Alan here brought Jonathan out of the gutter and made him something to be proud of. Sad really sad, they were gonna get married in six months. Would have been THE wedding of the year.”

“Oh I’m sure it would have be done with flair and taste.” Catherine meant it was a compliment and several of the men nodded in agreement.

“Well, does ANYONE one have ANY idea who MIGHT have done this?” Brass was looking around. “Anyone? Come on guys, don’t you have enough problems with people? Ya don’t want the police down on you do ya?”

“Honey we’re used to it. Ohhhh, a policeman down on it…..works for me. So what about that….”

Before he could finish another shot rang out. It wizzzzzzed past Jim and hit Gil’s hat squarely in the middle and knocked if off his head. Everyone dove for cover and screams were heard all over the area as chairs were overturned and used for cover. Several officers started running in the direction of the shot.

Within a few minutes Brass deemed that it was safe to get up. Warrick started to look for the bullet to possibly dig it out as evidence. Catherine looked over at Gil who was standing up but looking down to the ground with a pitiful sad look. She walked over. “Gil, are you okay? You’re not hurt are you?” Her arm held onto his.

“My hat….he shot my hat.” The shock on Gil’s face, Catherine wasn’t sure if it was from realizing in inch down Gil would be laying there dead, or that he was upset that the hat had a hole in it.

“Gil…it’s a hat. A pitiful one but just a hat. As long as you are okay.”

The young man who had lost his partner was being held away by some friends. He stopped and looked at Gil and then the hat. “Honey that hat SHOULD have been shot! That has to be the WORST fashion statement I have seen since….since Lordie I gotta say it..HEE HAW!!! Bury that damn thing and thank the Lord someone had the decency to put it out of the world’s sight.” He then broke into racking sobs and his friends took him away.

“My hat.” Gil couldn’t say much but that. Catherine was still holding onto his arm, patting it.

Warrick had found the bullet and pulled it out of a tree after taking the necessary photos. He looked at Catherine. “Ah…the bullet, I got it.” He bent down and saw the hole. “Whoo Griss that was close!” He then saw the look on Gil’s face. He got out his handkerchief and covered the hat, like a dead body would be covered. “I’ll take it from here. Cath, why don’t you errr…take Griss back to the Lab?”

“Good idea. I think you guys can take it from here. I think Gil needs some…tea with a drop or two of whiskey. Thanks Warrick.”

“My hat.”

****************

Several hours later, the CSIs were all back at the Lab and surrounding Doc Al Robbins in the autopsy room. There were two tables in use, one with the body of the young man, the other…well Warrick had placed Gil’s hat on there so everyone would work on it. Somehow he thought it was the thing to do for Grissom.

Doc was going thru the ins and outs when Gil came thru the doors. Catherine had made him a strong cup of tea and poured some whiskey in it and settled him down for a two hour nap on his leather sofa in his office. She locked the door to the office and put a sign on it waning NO one to knock or disturb on pain of death.

“So did I miss anything?” Gil smiled shyly at everyone surrounding the body. Nick and Greg stepped back t allow Gil view of what Doc was talking about.

“How you doing Gil?” Doc looked up at Gil who just nodded. “Okay, nothing special the bullet hit the heart smack in the middle and he bled out internally. Ballistics has the bullet I did notice some pink material and sent it on to Trace. Any questions? My report will be in the case folder in a few minutes after I hit the computer. Now, should be go on to the next errrr victim?”

Gil looked puzzled, he didn’t remember another victim. But Doc turned and walked to the next table. The other CSIs gathered around the table, Gil slowly walked around and saw a white sheet covering a small oval shape. At first he wasn’t sure if it was an infant or something he wasn’t told about…a new case. As he finally stepped across from Doc, the sheet was lifted to reveal Gil’s straw hat laying on the table.

“Guys this is NOT funny.” Gil started to reach for the hat. Doc’s hands stopped him.

“Gil let it be. This is the best place for everyone to gather around without bumping into one another. Since everyone is on this case, BUT you, be quiet.” Gil was taken back by Doc’s tone. “Now, let’s see what we can find here. Warrick, you brought this in, would you like to do the first view?” Doc turned the microphone towards Warrick and handed him a ruler for measuring.

“Well it’s a straw hat, approximately eight inches long by six wide. Belonging to one Gil Grissom. Black band which appears to have been almost severed in half by the bullet’s entrance and exit. The bullet appears to be a .38 that passed straight thru the band. Closer it ….bring down that light…..thanks….ahhhha Doc I see more of that pink you were talking about.” Warrick got a pair of tweezers and slowly pulled out the pink thread like material. “Ummm, not sure. Send it to Trace.”

“Looks like a pink feather piece….from a boa maybe?” Catherine was looking thru her glasses at the plastic bag. “Greggie, run this up and see if it matches what Doc found. Go.”

“Since we know who owns this hat, I guess there is no reason to do DNA or anything else. I ahhh think I’m done. Sara want to take more pictures and then we can er….ghees Gil it has to be kept for evidence…..sorry man.”

Gil was just staring at his hat and not saying a word. Doc finally spoke. “Okay, this part’s done now how about we leave Gil alone for a few minutes? Gil remember, this is NOT the place to say goodbye but….. Please don’t touch it. I’ll bag it for you when you are ready.” He was as serious as if he was talking to a victim’s relative. He looked and motioned for the rest of the CSIs to leave the room.

Gil stood there and looked at his hat sitting on the cold steel table. He leaned over and put his gloved hand on the table and rested his chin on it, looking at the hole the bullet made. He just stood there and looked for about five minutes, then got up and walked out of the room.

***************

After a week of good investigation the team found the killer of Jonathan. It turned out to be a young man who was angry that he was not to be included in the wedding after a disagreement on the colouring of the wedding’s theme. There was no need for a trial since all the evidence added up and he confessed. It was an open and closed case and was approved quickly by the Judge. That made things simple.

Gil could have his hat back. It was no longer needed for evidence.

Catherine brought it to Gil’s office still in the sealed evidence bag. “Hey the Commissioner signed off on this. Said it was okay for you to have and ummm do with it what you want. You’ve been pretty quiet the last couple of weeks.”

“Yeah Cath I…. ahh well I REALLY liked this hat and well there’s nothing that can be done for it now. I don’t think it can be fixed.” He held the bag in his hands turning it over and looking lovingly at it.

“Well why don’t you ummmm maybe ….don’t take this wrong. Tear it apart more and let some birds or some of your bugs there have nesting material. That way it’s dust to dust, ashes to ashes and recycled. That should make you feel better.” She was biting the inside of her mouth to keep from really laughing her head off. But she knew what this hat was to Gil.

“Umm good idea. I think….” He sighed heavily. “I’m going home, it’s a light night and well….I’m just…”

“Gil go home, get some sleep and do what you got to do. And remember I’m ALWAYS here for you. ALWAYS. I will be there in a second if you need me.”

“Thanks Cath. Thanks for not laughing at me.” Gil picked up his keys and the bag and slowly walked out of his office. Catherine then sat down at his desk and put her head in her arms on the desk, her shoulders started to shake uncontrollably.

Warrick walked past with Nick and glanced in and saw Catherine. He stopped and touched Nick’s arm and nodded in Cath’s direction. Both men came in to the office. “Cath, Honey are you okay? Something wrong?” Catherine’s head came up and her eyes were tearing so badly, there was a small puddle on the desk. “Oh Honey, what’s wrong? Where’s Griss?”

Then Catherine let out a gasp of breath and started to roar with laughter. It took a few minutes for her to settle down enough to speak.

“I’m sorry, I just…. whoooo.” She wiped a tear away and blew her nose. “I sent Gil home and suggested he recycle his HEE HAW hat by tearing it apart and letting his bugs use it for nesting material. Whoooo what a prize THAT would be to bring home to Mrs Bowlweevel.” She started to laugh all over again. Both Nick and Warrick just stared and then started to laugh.

**********

Gil didn’t go home, he decided to walk down the Strip and just try to find something to take his mind off of his depression. He really wasn’t in the roller coaster mood. So he walked and walked up one side of the Strip and then down the other side in the older section of town. The place that had the most character of Las Vegas and the most characters IN Las Vegas. He walked until almost dawn.

By the time his walk was finished it was almost dawn, the sun was peeking up over the mountains. He was just about ready to call it a day when he spotted the homeless man that he had brought the hat from. He sat down and told the man what happen. Gil handed him a few bucks before leaving to thank him for listening and for allowing him the honour of wearing that hat. The homeless man just smiled a toothless grin and said something about how his kindness will be returned to him a tenfold. Gil headed to his car.

*************

The next evening Catherine was heading to the Evidence room when she passed Gil’s office and heard him whistling a tune. She peeked into the office before knocking. “Hey! You sure are in a good mood.”

“Sure am.” He grinned from ear to ear.

“Okay, wantta share why?” She was standing with her arms folded across her chest.

“Nope, not until we are all together.” His grin was one like the Cheshire Cat. “We should be heading to the Break room now for assignments. You go ahead and I’ll be there in a second.”

“Okay. I’m looking forward to this. It’s so nice to have the usual Gil Grissom back.” Cath left the room smiling and glad her friend was no longer depressed.

*********

Catherine made a small announcement to the CSIs sitting in the Break room waiting. “He said he was going to let us all know at one time why he’s so happy. I don’t give a damn about why…I’m just glad he’s back to normal.”

Everyone agreed how they were happy about it.

Greg heard Gil’s footsteps. “Oh goodie, here he comes now!”

Everyone looked up to the door for the egarly awaited Gil Grissom.

“Bon Jour. everyone !!!”

Gil stood there smiling at the CSIs wearing his new French beret.